Convicted rapist Ched Evans could be about to make a return in professional football with Oldham Athletic, according to reports in The Sun.

Alan Nixon from the paper suggests that the 26-year-old, who was released from prison after serving half of a five-year sentence after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in 2011, has secretly signed a deal with the Latics.

Oldham had in December previously denied rumours they had offered Evans a contract, saying, “The Board of Directors would like to confirm that we will not be extending an invitation for Ched Evans to train with Oldham Athletic nor will we be offering him a contract. The club will not be making any further comment on this subject."

However Nixon reports that Evans has spoken to the Boundary Park side for a second time and they are apparently now willing to give him an opportunity to revive his footballing caeer.

Chief Executive of the PFA Gordan Taylor told BBC Radio 5 Live this morning that there is a press conference provisionally arranged for tomorrow at an unnamed club.

He said: "The club are due to hold the press conference tomorrow and I've made it clear to them that I cannot attend tomorrow.

"Bearing in mind what happened with his release and then of course the furore that we had at Sheffield United we feel that any club wishing to sign him needs to be 100 per cent committed to signing him for proper and legitimate football reasons."

Evans had an offer to train with his former club Sheffield United retracted in November following strong local opposition, while Tranmere, Oldham and Hartlepool also rejected the opportunity to sign him.

Malta side Hibernians had apparently offered the forward a route back into the game but the Ministry of Justice confirmed that strict conditions imposed on sex offenders "effectively rules out working abroad".